The rise in the orders of weaponry comes as US crime rates have fallen to 40-year lows.

The “1033 program” was passed by Congress in 1997, aiming at providing law-enforcement agencies with equipment to fight drugs and terrorism.

According to the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA), US sales of foreign arms remained above USD 30 billion after it reached USD 31.6 billion in fiscal year 2010. The figure for 2011 has reached USD 34.8 billion.